Biggest Surprises of the 2024 NFL Draft

And just like that, the 2024 NFL draft is a wrap.

It included a historic run on quarterbacks in the first 12 picks, an eye-opening decision from Atlanta in the top 10 and no QB taken from No. 13 to No. 149.

Finding homes for the 257 draftees moves the projection process into its next phase with minicamps around the corner.

Whether it's Caleb Williams at the top, fourth-round punter Tory Taylor or late Day 3 fliers that teams prioritized based on potential and athletic traits, everyone will enter May with a fresh slate in a neutral environment. Now, it's all about football.

As we bask in the glow of another completed draft, here's a look back at the biggest jaw-droppers of the 2024 NFL draft.

If there's one thing to expect about the draft, it's the unexpected.

At eighth overall, the Atlanta Falcons had a litany of options. All cornerbacks and edge-rushers were on the board, as was wideout Rome Odunze—yet general manager Terry Fontenot took quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

Now, it's not a knock on Penix's game—the kid can flat-out spin it—but this looks like a long-term investment for a team that just added QB Kirk Cousins on a four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason to raise its immediate ceiling.

While competition never hurts, and Falcons fans will remain on the edge of their seats during every Cousins throw, finding reasons that sway the pendulum in favor of Fontenot's decision remains extremely difficult.

Penix's immediate path to snaps would come via an injury to Cousins. Otherwise he'll have to wait multiple seasons to get his chance. The rookie is set for a grace period of sorts that will allow Penix to sit, learn and take the reins when, seemingly, the time is right.

I get adding depth, but adding a developmental signal-caller with top-10 draft capital (immediately after adding Cousins this offseason) is a unique approach from Fontenot.

While six quarterbacks came off the board in the first 12 picks, a historic slide followed into the middle rounds of Day 3.

New Orleans ended the slide by taking South Carolina's Spencer Rattler in the fifth round (No. 150 overall), but a record 138 picks came and went following Denver's selection of Bo Nix at No. 12.

Annually, the level of talent at quarterback drops as Round 1 concludes, but that many picks without a team adding at the position is eye-opening. While teams at the top added potential organization-altering talent, the need for playable backups in a worst-case scenario goes overlooked every spring.

While I'm in favor of Brock Bowers as a player, I have a few questions about the Las Vegas Raiders taking the Georgia product just a year after drafting Michael Mayer at No. 35.

Both athletes are going to be extremely tough to counter in 12 personnel (two tight ends), but with Oregon State offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga on the board at No. 13, there was a higher need to add an impact player at right tackle (and potentially under center) than at tight end.

While it doesn't seem like Las Vegas panic-picked and took the BPA (best player available) with QB Michael Penix Jr. off the board, it's hard to decipher exactly which route newly hired GM Tom Telesco is looking to go in building his roster.

Deploying mismatch nightmares at the position remains of the utmost importance for teams, but the Raiders still have questions to answer at quarterback, and Bowers' overall performance ceiling will correlate directly with who is under center for both the short and long term.

After adding Ruke Orhorhoro in the top 35 selections, GM Terry Fontenot doubled, and tripled down with defensive line talent while other needs remained on the roster.

While each of Orhorhoro, Bralen Trice (third round) and Brandon Dorlus (fourth) will add versatility and physicality in the trenches to complement Grady Jarrett, massive needs remained at corner and inside linebacker.

After taking QB Michael Penix in the top 10 in the same offseason they acquired Kirk Cousins, the Falcons' approach in the 2024 draft was...something.

The addition of Jer'Zhan "Johnny" Newton to the Washington Commanders, although a surprise considering team needs, is a heck of a pickup in the trenches.

Although offensive tackle and corner remained a priority for GM Adam Peters, Newton should pair nicely with Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.

With seemingly unlimited ammo in the top 100 selections, Peters took the BPA (the No. 20-ranked player on the B/R Big Board) at No. 36 overall to add a potential game-changer for Dan Quinn's defense.

A first-team All-American in 2023, Newton has the ability to slot in up and down the defensive line, which will allow Washington to deploy consistently unique fronts in the middle.

Trevin Wallace can get after it at the second level, but Payton Wilson's game simply remains superior to that of the athletic linebacker out of Kentucky.

While many predraft conversations centered around Wilson's medicals (two torn ACLs), which could have scared teams away from the NC State prospect, prioritizing Wallace in the top 75 selections likely means Morgan and company are sold on what he'll offer right away within the core of Carolina's defense.

Wilson's tape showcases an elite athlete with the instincts and athleticism to become a green-dot linebacker rapidly at the NFL level.

Wilson is ranked No. 88 on B/R's Big Board, whereas Wallace checks in at No. 177.

Using draft capital on specialists usually invites a public scorning.

However, it wouldn't be an NFL draft if a kicker or punter didn't come off the board way too early.

With the 122nd pick, Bears GM Ryan Poles prioritized one of the class' elite punters in Iowa's Tory Taylor. While that's too early for a punter, Taylor's impact will be immediately felt for the Bears.

The ability to flip the field is second nature to Taylor, an Australian native with a cannon for a right leg.

Taylor won the Ray Guy Award (nation's top punter) in 2023, was named a first-team All-American and set the NCAA record for single-season punting yardage with 4,479.

Taylor becomes the second-highest-drafted punter since 2012 when Bryan Anger was selected with the 70th pick.

Howie Roseman didn't put the phone down on Day 3.

While the additions from a personnel perspective Philadelphia made opened eyes, Roseman continued to focus on future drafts, adding additional asset after asset as the rounds churned along.

Roseman's moves saw the Eagles jump up, down and around the board all weekend. Roseman's nine trades during the three-day event set the record for the most by any team since 1990, when draft-weekend trades began being tracked.

After taking Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean with his first two selections, the longtime Eagles GM added third-, fourth- and fifth-round selections in next year's draft.